not sure how to remove old bathroom fan to install new one

The 28 1/2 year old fan in a bathroom has stopped working. I removed the cover, then removed the motor and metal panel holding it. Now, I want to remove the main housing unit but I don't see how to remove it. I see a metal clip along one side but see no other fasteners (screws, etc) holding it in place. If I try to push the box up out of the metal clip, it resists being pushed upward. In the attached photo, I circled the metal clip. Does anyone know how to remove the box, short of brute force? I don't want to damage drywall.

 

It looks like that box is not designed to be removable. You may have to go into the attic and remove the screws or cut the nails holding it in place. If you don't want to go up in the attic make sure the breaker for the fan is off. Then break up the plastic housing and rip it out. Once it's out of the way you can look through the hole and remove whatever brackets were mounting it.

 

I should have mentioned the bathroom does not have an attic above it; it has another home floor above it.

I have an oscillating tool. Perhaps some cutting with it would be a way to get this old box out.

 

If the unit is getting power, you can just change out the motor and move on. I have done that several times with success. A picture of the motor portion might help.

 

True. But if you are changing the entire fixture there is no way around it... you will need to cut out and patch drywall. Plan to find the studs and cut out a 16"x16" square. Once the drywall is removed, you will be able to see how to remove the fan. You will also need room to hook up the ductwork so the hole size may grow.

 

There are fans out there that can be used as a retrofit that doesn't require access above the ceiling and no repair to the drywall, although you will need to enlarge the hole. I know this because we are installing 70 of these in existing ceilings with no fan previously installed. Here are some examples:

Nutone ARN80, https://www.homedepot.com/p/NuTone-I...RN80/206339698

Brone AE80B, https://www.homedepot.com/p/Broan-In...-206656105-_-N

Nutone EZ90N https://www.homedepot.com/p/NuTone-E...Z80N/205130123

There also other models with more CFM or with a light.

 

XSleeper, cuting out a 16"x16" square in the ceiling to install a small fan with a cover that measures about 9.37" x 10.75", or similar dimensions for other models, and then patching the large opening with new drywall would leave a plain drywall surface next to the textured ceiling. So, that would look rather crude, and I don't think I can create a textured effect on patched-in drywall.

Tolyn Ironhand, yes, the fans shown at your links would all be options for a complete replacement of the fan. But, as stated in my original post, I can't see how to completely remove the old fan without an extensive invasion of that area in the ceiling.

czizzi, I'm going to try your suggestion. The Broan motor shown at
https://www.amazon.com/S97012038-Ven...nt+Motor&psc=1 looks like it will fit.

 

Maybe you don't understand that your fan box is probably mounted on a couple new construction brackets and that the only way to get to those brackets and remove the box is to remove the drywall in order to get to the bracket! Plus that texture is easy to match.

You could try a long sawzall blade for metal but I bet your cut your romex wire off!

 

Well, if the replacement motor I just ordered does not yield satisfactory results, I agree I'll probably have to take your advice on how to replace the whole unit.

Regarding the textured ceiling, I doubt I could do a good matching of it. If I attempted to match it and was not successful, I guess another option for the ceiling would be remove the textured coating.

 

That's true. But it looks like a very simple sponge texture. I'm sure you could practice on a scrap of drywall and get very close. The amount of water you mix with the mud has a lot to do with the size of the texture. And the pattern with the size and shape of the sponge. Doesn't look like a crows foot brush to me but a wider shot showing more of the ceiling would help.